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| UN combat force to target DR Congo rebels | UN combat force to target DR Congo rebels |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The UN Security Council has approved the creation of a special combat force to carry out "targeted offensive operations" against armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. | The UN Security Council has approved the creation of a special combat force to carry out "targeted offensive operations" against armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. |
| It is the first time the UN has given an offensive mandate to its troops. | It is the first time the UN has given an offensive mandate to its troops. |
| The 2,500-strong brigade will be asked to "neutralise and disarm" rebels. | The 2,500-strong brigade will be asked to "neutralise and disarm" rebels. |
| The existing 20,000-strong UN peacekeeping force has been widely criticised as ineffective in ending the two-decade long war. | The existing 20,000-strong UN peacekeeping force has been widely criticised as ineffective in ending the two-decade long war. |
| Troops from Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa are due to form the bulk of the new brigade which is expected to be deployed by July. | |
| The region's mineral riches have been plundered by numerous groups and countries during the long conflict. | The region's mineral riches have been plundered by numerous groups and countries during the long conflict. |
| The resolution, unanimously adopted by the Security Council, says the new force will operate "in a robust, highly mobile and versatile manner... to prevent expansion of all armed groups, neutralise these groups, and to disarm them". | |
| The UN's peacekeeping mission has been in DR Congo for more than a decade and was at one time the biggest peacekeeping operation in the world. | |
| It says that their peacekeepers are spread thinly over a vast and difficult terrain. | |
| Last month, regional African leaders signed a UN-brokered accord to end the violence. | Last month, regional African leaders signed a UN-brokered accord to end the violence. |
| Some 500,000 people have fled their homes since a rebellion by M23 rebels began in April last year. | |
| The group is made up of fighters who deserted from the Congolese army following a mutiny and are mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group, a minority in eastern DR Congo. |